But Rafael's gaze didn't soften. He looked at her with that same, unyielding intensity that both infuriated and intrigued her. "Though I'll remind you," he added, his voice low, "that my duty remains. And if there's anything that could endanger you—even indirectly—I won't hesitate to act on it."
Amara's eyes narrowed, a warning simmering beneath her calm exterior. "I hope you understand, then, that if you go too far in that pursuit, you will have me to answer to."
Rafael's lips curved in the faintest of smirks. "Believe me, Your Highness," he said, his voice barely above a murmur, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
